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Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Takes the Life of Photographer and Pilot

A helicopter crash at the Port of Los Angeles resulted in
the death of the two men aboard and a lengthy search by rescuers. The passenger
killed in the Los Angeles helicopter crash was a well-known photographer on
assignment for the port, while the pilot had a regular job as a director of
strategic planning.

The helicopter
accident occurred in the evening hours of January 4, 2017 in a black Robinson
R22 helicopter and was witnessed by cruise ship passengers within the harbor,
as well as people on the shore.

Helicopter
Flight Intended as Short Aerial Photo Shoot

The Robinson R22 helicopter involved in the crash, which was
registered to JJ Helicopters Inc., took off from Zamperini Field north of Long Beach
with two passengers aboard: Pilot Christopher Reed, 41, and photographer
Michael Justice, 61. Justice was a veteran freelance photographer who often did
work for the port, the two men departed with the goal of capturing images of
the three cruise ships that were docked in harbor—a rare occurrence. Justice
had been hired by the port for the photo shoot.

At around 4:30 p.m.
on January 4, 2017, Reed and Justice left the Torrance airport in the Robinson
R-22. Justice had booked the helicopter for one hour. During their flight, Reed
made no reports back to Torrance airport, and, at around 5:40 p.m., witnesses
aboard the cruise ships within the harbor and nearby locations began to call
9-1-1 with reports of the downed aircraft. The U.S. Coast Guard is attempting
to find out if Reed or Justice made any distress calls.

Photo Credit: Fox 11 News

Lengthy Search
Follows Los Angeles Helicopter Crash

Witnesses aboard
one of the cruise ships told authorities they saw the Robinson R-22 circle a
cruise ship three times before crashing. Report placed the crash near the Angels Gate Lighthouse,
which is located at the end of the Port of Los Angeles breakwater and near one
of the two entrances to the port.

Following reports
of the Los Angeles helicopter crash, officials closed the Los Angeles Harbor
Entrance by Angels Gate and put a 1,000-foot safety zone in effect. Officials
immediately began the search for the helicopter by both air and sea, but had to
call off rescue efforts that night due to inclement weather. It would not be
until 11:08 a.m. the next morning, Thursday, January 5, 2017, that Los Angeles
Port Police would locate the downed helicopter using sonar equipment. The
wreckage was found near the breakwater that stems from the Cabrillo Beach, and
trapped under 15 to 20 feet of water. Both Reed and Justice appeared to have
perished inside the aircraft.

Who Were the
California Helicopter Accident Victims?

Both victims of the
crash were known in the community for their love of what they did.

Michael Justice:
A Talented and Loved Photographer

Michael Justice,
who was aboard the helicopter to photograph the cruise ships in harbor, had
worked freelance with the Port of Los Angeles since 2010, and had an impressive
resume that included shooting for the Wall Street Journal,Time
magazine, Forbes and National Geographic Adventurer. He had even
spent time photographing Mother Teresa.

Beyond his talent,
Justice was well loved by those who worked with him. Former Daily Breeze newspaper
photojournalist BranimirKvartuc, in an interview with the
Los Angeles Times, spoke fondly of his memories with Justice.

“He had a million
stories to tell, but never forced them on you,” Kvartuc told the publication.

Port of Los Angeles
spokesman Phillip Sanfield had
similar praise.

“He was really an
extended member of the harbor family,” Sanfield said of
Justice. “He lived and breathed on the docks.”

On January 6, 2017,
the Port of Los Angeles posted a video tribute to the deceased freelance
photographer on their Twitter account, showcasing some of their favorite photos
Justice had taken.

Christopher
Reed: A Passionate Pilot

Christopher Reed,
who was piloting the Robinson R-22 during the crash, would have been 42 years
old on January 7, 2017. In his daily life, Reed worked for Honeywell Aerospace
as director of strategic planning, integrated supply chain. His love of flying,
however, led him to take a part-time job at JJ Helicopters, flying
photographers for photo shoots and giving tours.

Reed received his
commercial pilot certification in 2016, and was licensed to fly rotorcraft
helicopters, as well as multi and single-engine airplanes. Reed also had his
own plane, a four-seat Mooney, which he would fly to national parks.

His mother, Holly Rossing, recalled her son’s skill as a
pilot in the wake of the Los Angeles helicopter crash.

“He enjoyed
flying," Rossing said to
the Daily Breeze. “I flew with him. I was so used to the big
airplanes when they land. They go ‘bounce bounce.’ It’s really scary. He’d just
land wonderfully. It was just great.”

Chopper Crash
Raises Alarms About Robinson R22 Helicopter

The focus of the
Los Angeles helicopter crash has not been solely on the occupants of the
aircraft or the conditions of the crash, but also on the aircraft itself: The
Robinson R22.

The crash on
January 4, 2017 was the second Robinson R22 crash to occur in California within
a week. The first—a December 29, 2016 hard landing at Mount Baldy—did not
result in fatalities, but four people on board had to be rescued and one was flown to a trauma center.

Recently, New Zealand added Robinson R22 to its “most pressing concerns” watchlist, due to “mast bumping
accidents” that have led to 18 deaths in the country in the past 20 years. Mast
bumping accidents are often fatal for those on board because they typically
cause the helicopter to break up while in flight. They occur when the inner
part of a main rotor blade contacts the main rotor drive shaft.

What Caused the
Robinson Helicopter Crash?

The cause of the Los
Angeles helicopter crash remains unknown, but the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) hopes to have a preliminary report on the cause of the
accident in the week of January 9, 2016. The full investigation and report are
likely to take about a year.

NTSB officials are
hoping to compile any video footage of the crash, as well as to speak to any
witnesses. Those with video footage or who saw the helicopter crash are asked
to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.

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